Chief Justice Martha Koome Initiates Heads of Courts’ Summit to Address Judicial Independence and Efficiency
Inaugural Consultative Meeting Focuses on Timely Case Resolution, Technological Advancements, and Strengthening Integrity within the Judiciary
Chief Justice Martha Koome convened the first Heads of Courts’ consultative meeting, aiming to address issues of judicial independence, improved performance, enhanced accountability, and seamless service delivery to the Kenyan people.
The meeting, spanning from Monday until Wednesday, comes amid heightened public scrutiny of the role of judges in recent events.
The Chief Justice emphasized the importance of constructive conversations to optimize the institution’s performance while maintaining a clear boundary against discussions influencing court decisions.
She acknowledged the need for introspection into the handling of cases affecting public interest and policy, particularly focusing on the timeliness of resolutions.
“It is important that we reflect on our rules of procedure, especially the Constitution of Kenya (Protection of Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) Practice and Procedure Rules, 2013 and the Judicial Review Procedure Rules, and whether they facilitate speedy handling of time-sensitive public interest cases,” she said.
The Chief Justice stressed the imperative to expedite the disposal of public interest cases through active case management practices.
Mrs. Koome underscores the role of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in addressing allegations of corruption and improving investigative and complaints resolution processes.
Looking ahead, the Chief Justice outlined significant advancements in leveraging technology, including the nationwide rollout of the e-filing initiative next month.
“Our e-filing initiative has progressed significantly and we are now set for a nationwide rollout across all court stations on March 11, 2024,” said Koome.
The introduction of a pilot transcription center and a ‘Tracking Dashboard’ aims to enhance operational efficiency, transparency, and real-time monitoring of court activities.
“These enhancements are pivotal in ensuring the reliability of our data, which is indispensable for informed policy-making and tracking the progress of our institutional development efforts,” she added.
The introduction of new features such as the publication of rulings and judgments, along with Automated Daily Court Reporting, would address the discrepancies previously experienced in the Case Tracking System (CTS).